Dominique Mbonyumutwa

Dominique Mbonyumutwa
Interim President
In office
28 January 1961 – 26 October 1961
Succeeded by Grégoire Kayibanda
Personal details
Born January 1921
Gitarama Province, Rwanda[1]
Died 26 July 1986 (aged 65)
Brussels, Belgium[2]

Dominique Mbonyumutwa (January 1921 – 26 July 1986) was a Rwandan politician who served as the first and (provisional) President of Rwanda, from January 28 to October 26, 1961, immediately following the abolition of the Rwandan monarchy. He took over the country after King Kigeli V of Rwanda was overthrown following the 1961 referendum abolishing monarchy.

Mbonyumutwa was of Hutu ethnicity. He was chosen by the party of the majority to be the first president after the Monarchy. Dominique Mbonyumutwa was respected by the population before and after he became president. On November 1st 1959, when he was still a "sous-chef" (equivalent to mayor today), he got attacked and slapped by a group of uncontrolled Tutsi youth at Byimana in the Southern Province. Due to his high popularity back then, the population started the Rwandese revolution which finally led to the abolition of the Monarchy two years later.

Dominique Mbonyumutwa was replaced by Grégoire Kayibanda at the end of his life period according to the party agreement. He died in July 1986 and was buried in Gitarama Stadium, where the republic was proclaimed, as a recognition to the country. In 2010, his remains were exhumed and reburied in a public cemetery due to the plans to develop the stadium.

References

  1. ↑ Rwanda politique: Documents prיsentיs par F. Nkundabagenzi - Centre de recherche et d'information socio-politiques - Google Books. Books.google.ca. 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  2. ↑ Keesing's record of world events - Google Books. Books.google.ca. 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2012-01-10.

http://www.dominiquembonyumutwa.info/

Political offices
Preceded by
King Kigeri V of Rwanda		 President of Rwanda
January 28, 1961 – October 26, 1961 		Succeeded by
Grégoire Kayibanda